Posted: Mon, Aug 20, 2001, 10:49 AM ET (1449 GMT)
The British National Space Centre (BNSC) announced Monday it is accepting bids to host a national center to educate the public on the hazards of near Earth objects (NEOs). The center will not coordinate research on NEOs but instead host an interactive exhibition about the threat posed by NEOs, maintain a web site, and also provide educational packs for schools. The announcement is the latest step by the British government to study the potential threat posed by NEOs. Last year a panel of scientists established by the government published a report outlining the NEO danger and proposing a series of steps the British government should follow to better understand and mitigate the threat. Earlier this year British science minister Lord Sainsbury announced a four-point package of steps in response to the recommendations in the report, including creating a NEO information center.